X and Y + modifier

[shobhitk]

Hi everyone,

I am facing problems in understanding the following construction and would request experts to please help me understand the same.

1) "cities and towns with interdependent economies"- In this case with... modifies towns or the entire "cities and towns" phrase

2) "London and New York, which..." - Is this a valid construction? and if yes, does it modify New Yor or the entire "..and .." phrase?

Any additional information or examples to help this understand would be great.

Thanks!!

[theCodeToGMAT]

For Sentence #1
---------------
I believe "with" modifies both.. can you please post the complete question.


For Sentence #2
---------------
Neta are Geeta, who are going abroad, are sisters of Malik.
--> "who" modifies Neeta & Geeta

Neeta and Geeta, who is in Russia, are sisters of Malik.
--> "who" modifies "Geeta"

So, it depends upon "Verb"

[ceilidh.erickson]

1) "cities and towns with interdependent economies"- In this case with... modifies towns or the entire "cities and towns" phrase

Yes, the "with" phrase modifies both

2) "London and New York, which..." - Is this a valid construction? and if yes, does it modify New Yor or the entire "..and .." phrase?

This is a valid construction, and the subordinate SHOULD modify both X and Y:

London and New York, which are large cities, are... --> "which are" indicates that we're modifying both

The GMAT will sometimes test this issue, so be careful:

Neeta and Geeta, who is in Russia, are sisters of Malik.
--> "who" modifies "Geeta"

This is NOT considered a correct construction on the GMAT.

Look at OG13 #110 for a similar issue:

"Published in Harlem, the owner and editor of the Messenger were two young journalists, Chandler Owen and A. Phillip Randolph, who would later make his reputation as a labor leader."

Here, the "his" indicates that the modifier should only refer to A. Philip Randolph, but the GMAT explanation says that this modifier "does not have a clear antecedent."

[EducationAisle]

2) "London and New York, which..." - Is this a valid construction? and if yes, does it modify New Yor or the entire "..and .." phrase?

For the most part, if the intent is to modify both the cities (London and New York), GMAT would use that. OG has quite a few examples of this type.

#85, Verbal Guide 2nd edition, where the correct answer is:

The computer company's present troubles are a result of technological stagnation, marketing missteps, and managerial blunders that several attempts to revise corporate strategies have failed to correct.

that modifies the list: technological stagnation, marketing missteps, and managerial blunders.

Many other similar official examples also exist.

p.s. Our book SC Nirvana discusses difference between which and that, their application and examples in significant detail. If you can PM you email, I can send you the corresponding section.